Sony M-570V Microcassette Voice Recorder

by Sony

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 1.7 x 7.5 x 11.3 inches ; 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B0007Y6AJO
• Item model number: M570V
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,238 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
  • #8 in Electronics > Portable Audio & Video > Microcassette Recorders
  • #49 in Electronics > Portable Audio & Video > Digital Voice Recorders
• Date first available at Amazon.com: April 25, 2005

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Ideal for recording lectures and presentations, Sony's M-570V Microcassette Recorder is an affordable personal recording device. It is small and compact with a built-in microphone and speaker for easy review and playback. Recording is easy with the one-touch button and the cue and review slide control makes fast forwarding and rewinding a breeze. Sony has made it easy to find a specific location on the microcassette for rapid access and editing.

Sony has equipped the M-570V with Voice Operated Recording (VOR) that activates the recorder when audible sound is present, so you'll never waste valuable recording time. Your samples and audio notes will always sound great with Sony-Matic automatic recording level control. This function takes advantage of advanced circuitry to ensure correct recording levels, and the Clear Voice function improves recording quality by enhancing voice sounds during recording and playback.

This microcassette recorder also features an earphone output for private listening. The two-speed record/playback (1.2 or 2.4 centimeter per second) gives you the option of recording on a standard microcassette for twice its normal time. This is great for extended dictation or personal audio note taking. Powered by two AAA batteries or an AC adaptor, the M-570V is easy to use and perfect for students as well as professionals.

What's in the Box
M-570 micro cassette recorder, one microcassette, and two AAA batteries.

Product Description

Slim and stylish the M-570V microcassette voice recorder makes recording important conversations and lectures easy.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sony delivers solid performance and build quality, February 4, 2009

By 

J Mark "JM" (Santa Barbara, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony M-570V Microcassette Voice Recorder (Office Product)

I almost did not buy this product after reading all of the negative reviews but my experience has been that you need to take reviews with a grain of salt.

I have much experience with many recorders over the last decade. I own a high end Olympus L250, Panasonic, and other misc analog recorders. I also own some high end digital recorders. I prefer micro cassette for their ease of use, easy archive, independence from other electronic devices such as a computer! And partly because of nostalgia.

This Sony is better suited for close dictation then for lecture. For lectures you might be disappointed unless your professor talks loud. For classroom use I would recommend either a higher end Olympus digital, the sound quality and sensitivity are incredible on those. An analog unit with an external microphone would be my second choice, this Sony model does not have a microphone jack. I also own the Sony M-670V which has better clarity and more sensitivity. It is better suited for classroom use.


This Sony unit has decent sound quality, there is slight motor noise but this is the case with most affordable recorders. I do not experience any problems with the sound quality as other reviewers have stated.

It was recently exposed that Belkin sales reps were paying people to leave negative reviews on Amazon of competitors products, I wonder if this Sony product has fallen prey to a similar fate? I can't imagine people being so disappointed with this unit!

The features of the unit are decent, I especially like the tape counter, a must have in my opinion. The unit has a nice solid feel, hinged battery compartment, attractive finish and nice compact size. Sensitivity is good, low background noise and an easy to use feature set without a bunch of gimmicks. I'm actually interested in buying another one to have as a backup. I recently bought an Olympus J300 and returned it and got this Sony. Compared to the Sony the J300 seemed flimsy and cheap but it did have an external microphone jack and performance was similar.

I would normally give this unit a four star because it does not have an external microphone jack or fast playback option, I gave it a five star to compensate for all of the ridiculously bad reviews that this unit got. I bought mine at Staples, although I really like Amazon I sometimes found that they seem to get some bad batches of certain products.

Sony designed an attractive, affordable recorder which performs well. I would spend a few dollars more and get the superior Sony M-670v, if you need it, otherwise for close dictation the 570 should work fine.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Reporter's Take, May 18, 2006

By 

J. Hardy - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony M-570V Microcassette Voice Recorder (Office Product)

I bought this tape recorder less than a year ago and I am already in the market for another one. First of all, don't believe the product description. This would be terrible for recording lectures. Even if you are right up against your interview subject, if there is other noise in the room you will not pick his voice up clearly.
Recently, interviews have started to be cut off in the middle with the rest of the tape white noise.
And if you are outdoors, if there is a slight breeze, all you will hear is the roar of the wind. (But no voice.)
Yuck.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars From a student's viewpoint, April 11, 2007

By 

M.L "M.L" (Ca, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony M-570V Microcassette Voice Recorder (Office Product)

I actually liked this recorder. I've been using it to record lectures for my AP US history class and its working pretty great. Although, I do agree with the issue of the motor making a buzzing noise, though I can still hear my teacher pretty clearly.